The Link Between Depression and Dementia

Learn what one study revealed about how battling the blues affects the brain

By Barbara Brody

Being depressed takes a real toll on your physical health, raising your risk for heart disease and diabetes. Now a study in the journal Neurology reports that older adults who suffered from depression were twice as likely to have developed dementia (including Alzheimer’s) by the follow-up 17 years later. Many changes in the brain are linked to depression, and it’s possible that some of them predispose you to memory problems, says Sanford Auerbach, MD, one of the study authors. The key to noticing depression in an aging parent is not mistaking the symptoms for normal signs of getting older, says Dr. Auerbach. In particular, watch out for:

• Changes in sleeping patterns, such as a “morning person” who now sleeps very late • Loss of interest in the activities that he used to enjoy, such as pursuing hobbies or spending time with friends • Lack of attention and focus (he seems more aloof or forgetful) • Weight loss or changes in appetite

If any of these changes happens abruptly, encourage your parent to see his primary care doctor, who can figure out what’s going on. And if it does turn out to be depression, keep in mind that some older people may be uncomfortable with that diagnosis; emphasizing that it’s a treatable medical condition may help, says Dr. Auerbach.

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